[Column] The Secret World: What is TSW?

SBFord · April 2014

Hot off the back of the mankini-gate scandal a discussion has been born asking what the IP of The Secret World actually is. How do you define something with such broad reaching strangeness? The discussion on the official forums has been going on for 19 pages now with everyone from fan to developer chiming in. Can there really be one solid definition of what The Secret World is? And do outfits like the Mankini and Sight for Sore Eyes really detract from the intellectual property?

Read more of Shannon Doyle's The Secret World: What is TSW?

orbitxo · April 2014

TSW- is the alter reality of branching out the topic to a different website (like mmorpg.)...

Agent_Joseph · April 2014

very interesting game & unique setting in mmo genre

Methos12 · April 2014

More than anything else TSW is, in my opinion at least, its setting. "Urban fantasy" was enough to sell me on the game. Fact that it actually has missions that require me to use my brain, something unheard of in the genre at large, was just the icing on the cake.

greatskys · April 2014

It has by far the most interesting quests I've ever played in an mmo that go way beyond the bulk standard kill x number of mobs , find this or that , deliver this to some mob or escort this mob from a to b . I know some people don't like the combat and if I'm honest its not the best but you do get used to it . The only thing I would say is that you have to be fairly intelligent to solve some of the quests without cheating . Generally speaking its quite a mature community . I've played well over 400 hours and I've not yet finished transylvania . Its been great value for me but I know it isn't something that appeals to everyone but if you like dark fantasy I would urge you to try it .

TheRealDarkeus · April 2014

It is hard to say. But I know it is my favorite MMO game.

Po_gg · April 2014

Originally posted by TheRealDarkeus
It is hard to say. But I know it is my favorite MMO game.

Actually it's easy to say, it's a Ragnar game, on par with TLJ on writing and nope, it's not a horror game, or a Lovecraft copy etc., it's simply the secret world behind the real one, where's everything is true. A great setting btw.

For the column, I personally think this whole mankini-"gate" is overreacted from both sides. And while FC's actions at least reasonable (pr reasons, damage control), I don't understand the community's reaction... It's more than 2 weeks now and they're still keep beating the dead horse, in some cases with so lame comments it's tough to read without laughing.

edit: ofc I ment the official thread and the ingame chat discussions, not the folks here

Xthos · April 2014

I started playing this again, I really like the feel of the game. I think it is still b2p, but with no sub now, and I think I have seen it as low as $10 on sale, so I recommend it to anyone wanting to play something different, and I think well done.

You do have to buy later content packs, but their is a ton to do for the initial cost.

Po_gg · April 2014

Considering you get a $10 worth stipend with the free month included in the box, it was free for you

And a few weeks ago there was a sale on the big pack (dunno the name, which contains the Issues as well), for $20... it also has the $10 stipend included, plus 3 Issues above the first 4 included the regular box (3x $10). As someone said, with sales like that it'd be simpler if they'd just go f2p... for $20 you get the game + $10 stipend + $30 worth of Issues.

edit: my bad, only +3 Issues to the massive edition...

Xthos · April 2014

Originally posted by Po_gg
Considering you get a $10 worth stipend with the free month included in the box, it was free for you

And a few weeks ago there was a sale on the big pack (dunno the name, which contains the Issues as well), for $20... it also has the $10 stipend included, plus 4 Issues above the first 4 included the regular box (4x $10). As someone said, with sales like that it'd be simpler if they'd just go f2p... for $20 you get the game + $10 stipend + $40 worth of Issues.

I bought it when it first came out, but just started back up. I am trying to figure everything out, and what I may or may not need. Think the pack I was looking at was $30 to upgrade to everything? I stopped playing when it went f2p originally, so I haven't bought any of the new content yet.

Po_gg · April 2014

Originally posted by Xthos

I bought it when it first came out, but just started back up. I am trying to figure everything out, and what I may or may not need. Think the pack I was looking at was $30 to upgrade to everything? I stopped playing when it went f2p originally, so I haven't bought any of the new content yet.

I checked meanwhile, it's called the Massive Edition. If you stopped at the b2p switch, it could be a nice deal if on sale, though I'm not sure you can add it to your existing account (since it's a full box, for new players)

In a nutshell, if you stopped that December, then you have Issue 5 with Tyler Freeborn. Since then there were 3 more Issues, up to 8. In the basic box there's the first 4 Issues included, in the Massive edition there's 3 more (not 4, I edited my previous post as well... my bad), so Issues 1-7 and an outfit.

Issue 8 and the last update with the sidequests are separate purchases from the store. So, if it's possible to add the Massive to your account, then it's a good buy for $20, since Issues 6 and 7 would be $20 as well, but with the box you get an extra outfit too.

But if you just start figuring out and getting back on the track, I'd say just play for a while, you can worry about the purchases later. Issues 1-5 providing just enough content for the start.

xanthai · April 2014

Originally posted by Po_gg
Originally posted by Xthos

I bought it when it first came out, but just started back up. I am trying to figure everything out, and what I may or may not need. Think the pack I was looking at was $30 to upgrade to everything? I stopped playing when it went f2p originally, so I haven't bought any of the new content yet.

I checked meanwhile, it's called the Massive Edition. If you stopped at the b2p switch, it could be a nice deal if on sale, though I'm not sure you can add it to your existing account (since it's a full box, for new players)

In a nutshell, if you stopped that December, then you have Issue 5 with Tyler Freeborn. Since then there were 3 more Issues, up to 8. In the basic box there's the first 4 Issues included, in the Massive edition there's 3 more (not 4, I edited my previous post as well... my bad), so Issues 1-7 and an outfit.

Issue 8 and the last update with the sidequests are separate purchases from the store. So, if it's possible to add the Massive to your account, then it's a good buy for $20, since Issues 6 and 7 would be $20 as well, but with the box you get an extra outfit too.

But if you just start figuring out and getting back on the track, I'd say just play for a while, you can worry about the purchases later. Issues 1-5 providing just enough content for the start.

AFAIK, if you buy the Massive Edition on Steam (where most of th sells happen I think) you get two keys. One for the game and one for the upgrade to Massive Edition.

So you could upgrade your account with only the second key.

FlyByKnight · April 2014

TSW is a MMORPG with incredible quests, fun skill progression, with bad combat and animation, that was absolutely run into the ground by a POS company. That company is FUncom.

DocBrody · April 2014

I'd like more conspiracy related stuff from real world events, e.g. JFK, moon bases etc.

was expecting something like this, maybe after Tokyo

and my special agent apartment from the intro, where is it? Some housing system should get implemented!

McBobber · April 2014

it's an mmo that really should be a single player game

Whyspre · April 2014

What is the secret world...

Those who know, don't say

Those who say, don't know.

The best MMO you've never played

JustARandomPanda · April 2014

TSW is my favorite MMO. I agree the story and atmosphere is on par with The Longest Journey. I've never found the combat animations and combat gameplay boring. Quite the opposite actually. And I thought the idea of the synergistic ability wheel one of the most fun ways to build and store different weapon skill sets in a game. My BF and I log in a play it every night.

Also...some new Side Stories missions were just released. They're new missions and storylines on all the old boards so you go back now to each one and pick up the new missions (assuming you bought Side Stories from the store). It's a nice addition once you've finished Issue 8 and waiting for Issue 9 (the 1st part of the Tokyo storyline) and gets you new equips, etc. There's some good reasons to try out the game if you haven't yet.

I laughed seeing some of the toons wearing the mankini in game. A few guys wearing them lined up doing the Gagnum Style dance. It was hilarious when I first spotted them during the flappy bird events in Agartha. Was sad to see mgmt take it out.

Canibaloler · April 2014

TSW could be one of the TOP mmorpgs out there but the combat is just retarded

I hope they fix this and i'll be back for good this time.

daltanious · April 2014

Great game with many original solutions and choices ... despite zillion problems at release, enjoyed a lot (and hated as always do "mini" games necessary with many quests) but after certain level that 7 buttons mean just pure button mashing. Lost all interest, checking from time to time if they increased buttons at least to one full line. If not ... well they will not see my money.

Solar_Prophet · April 2014

TSW is an interesting game with a unique setting (among MMOs) which has plenty of good ideas and interesting systems, but is held back by a combat system which lacks any sort of real depth, and the absolutely horrible animations to go with it. Not to mention that the Dreamworld engine isn't exactly stellar, and character customization options pale in comparison to those offered by other titles, even Funcom's own Age of Conan. Also, the crafting sucks.

I'd say its still worth a buy if you can catch it on sale.

Eir_S · April 2014

The "modern" setting is great, I think they need to do it more often. Unfortunately, the answer for me as to what TSW is, is crap. If a game isn't fun to play, I'm not going to be drawn in by the potential for a good story. If that were the case, I'd just go back to playing pen and paper RPGs.

dreamscaper · April 2014

Originally posted by Eir_S
The "modern" setting is great, I think they need to do it more often. Unfortunately, the answer for me as to what TSW is, is crap. If a game isn't fun to play, I'm not going to be drawn in by the potential for a good story. If that were the case, I'd just go back to playing pen and paper RPGs.

I'm the opposite. If I have a good story, I can overlook lackluster gameplay. Take Dreamfall, for example, which is one of my favorite games of all time. The gameplay was practically nonexistent, but the characters and story were absolutely superb.